earlier today, republicans john mccain and lindsey graham lashed out at susan rice, the leading candidate to replace secretary of state hillary clinton, because she initially suggested the attack began as a protest. >> why would susan rice not get our vote? i don't trust her. >> reporter: we put that to the president. senator graham said he simply doesn't trust ambassador rice after what she said about benghazi. >> if senator mccain and senator graham and others want to go after somebody, they should go after me. but for them to go after the u.n. ambassador, who had nothing to do with benghazi and to besmirch her reputation is outray outrageous. >> reporter: in a blistering response to that, senator graham issued a statement a short while ago, directly to the president, saying, quote, don't think for one minute that i don't hold you responsible. i think you failed as a commander in chief before, during and after the attack. in other words, diane, this battle is just beginning. >> first new battle of this re-elected term. thank you, jonathan karl. >>> and you heard the president mention ge